Li and Paragua have 5.0 points in six outings, half point ahead over Le, GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra and John Paul Gomez, GMs Baskaran Adhiban and Subramanian Arun Prasad of India and GM Marat Dzhumaev of Uzbekistan.

Sadorra split the point with Gomez after 29 moves of Gruenfeld defense, Adhiban outclassed GM Mohammed Al-Sayed of Qatar after 39 moves of King's Indian defense, Prasad nipped countryman GM Lalith Babu after 47 moves of Nimzo-Indian defense and Dzhumaev dealt GM Tsegmed Batchuluun of Mongolia after 42 moves of French defense.

The nine-round Swiss System event offering $100,000 in prizes is organized by the GM Eugene Torre Chess Foundation and is sponsored by eight-division world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, Cafe Puro, Alaxan, Oriental and Motolite Corp. is held under the auspices of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General newly-elected Cavite 7th district Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr., Asian Chess Federation and FIDE (World Chess Federation).

Sharing the limelight are 15-year-old Jerad Docena who held GM Parimarjan Negi of India into a fighting draw while FM Hamed Nouri upset IM Nguyen Duc Hoa of Vietnam and maintained his reputation as “giant killer in international competitions”.

Nouri, on the other hand was yielded to Sadorra in round 1, beat Joseph Galindon in round 2, drew with GM Krishnan Sasikiran of India in round 3, upset GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran in round 4, and lost to Prasad in round 5.

Docena and Nouri have 3.5 points, two of the most promising players groom to become a grandmaster in the future according to NCFP Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr.

In the women's play, WIM Catherine Perena defeated WGM Bhakti Pradip Kulkarni of India to raise her total to 4.0 points, good for share 7th to 10th placers in the company of WGM Huang Qian of China, WIM Ni Shiqun of China and WIM Chelsie Monica Sihite of Indonesia.